Happy Fall Everyone!
From where I am sitting it is a rainy Fall Friday in Nashville and it is thankfully starting to feel like Fall. It's admittedly my favorite time of year, and the soundtrack of football is coming through loud and clear in our house as we break out those chili recipes, and hope we finish somewhere above last place in fantasy football!๐ ๐
This Fall is also a a season of healing as I settle into the chemotherapy regimen that Vanderbilt prescribed, and Judith and I dive deeply into the work of Dr. Joe Despinza together. Dr. Joe's work has especially been healing for me and Judith as we walk this journey side by side, holding hands, and feeling beyond grateful! For those that know his work you get it, and for those that don't yet and are interested to learn more check out the Source documentary which details a lot of the science and research.
In regards to the chemotherapy, after receiving the gene sequencing information my doctor consulted several colleagues to help guide his decision making on the most effective and least toxic treatment for me. Thankfully we learned that nothing has changed in the genetic makeup of my tumor cells. It is important to keep in mind that this type of cancer is very rare to begin with, and my mutations have always been a type of "unicorn status", which means the path forward wasn't exactly laid out for him. After a lot of thought and many discussions with fellow experts, the prescribed therapy plan is for me to take two different oral chemotherapies over the course of 6, 6 week cycles. As I type this blog I am about to start the second cycle, and am very grateful that the symptoms while not always fun, are very manageable! I know that I will continue to live a long and amazing life, and trust that my body is responding perfectly to this treatment.
I feel extremely grateful for all of your support over the past 4 months, and I know Judith feels the same way. While the summer ended up looking a feeling a little bit differently than we had envisioned it, it very much is what it is, and despite it all we made a lot of great memories. As you know, life happens! For me it has never been about avoiding the reality that I am experiencing tough times, but rather that I always come back to gratitude and love - even if it takes me a little while to get there! I choose to view the world, and certainly my cancer journey, as opportunities to grow and heal, and healing I am doing!
Judith and I wake up grateful every single day, are grateful for your support, and look forward to sharing more with you in the weeks ahead!
Always wishing you the best,
Justin
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